New study: Patterns of hurricane gaps in a longleaf pine landscape
Ecological approaches to forestry seek to emulate aspects of natural disturbances like hurricanes which are a common disturbance in longleaf pine forets. This study used airborne lidar to measure patterns of hurricane-created gaps to offer guidance for application of natural disturbance-based management in landscapes dominated by longleaf pine.
Ichauway Forest Dynamics Plot included in global Smithsonian network
The Ichauway Forest Dynamics plot is a 40 acre research plot in a longleaf pine-oak woodland which consists of 18,000+ mapped trees over 1 cm in diameter. The new infastructure will support long-term research in longleaf pine and fire dynamics in the southeastern U.S.
New study: Longleaf pine resilience after Hurricane Michael
A new study led by University of Florida and Landscape Ecology lab alumnus Cody Pope was published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management. The study examined growth of longleaf pine and associated oak saplings for 2 years after hurricane Michael, and found that canopy removal may benefit longleaf pine over competing oak species, indicating that hurricanes may reinforce and stabilize longleaf pine dominace in frequent-fire forests.